194 THE FRIENDSHIP OF NATURE 



their treasures, reached by lanes and 

 byways where the great amber-red fox- 

 grape shows its clusters as the brown- 

 ing leaves curl back, where the pepper- 

 idge and tulip tree mark the wood- 

 growth, there in the open meadows 

 grows the blue fringed gentian. We 

 may find it by the wayside, or perhaps 

 on a rocky bank where an overflow of 

 earth has washed the seed, but its 

 chosen home is the deep meadow, 

 companioned by brittle ferns, slender 

 Spiranthes, or the white grass of Par- 

 nassus. Here in New England, there 

 does not grow at any season a more 

 lovely or individual flower. It brings 

 to September a springtime delicacy, 

 wholly at variance with the autumn's 

 purples, yellows, and scarlets. 



It is at best only prophecy to fix set 

 times and seasons for the blooming of 

 wild things, and you may find violets. 



